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U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) is promoting his record and achievements for his constituents in 2025.

“Some of the most consequential wins in 2025 include securing the largest tax cut in history for hardworking Americans, bringing U.S. Space Command to its rightful home, delivering game-changing investments for Redstone Arsenal, Marshall Space Flight Center, Golden Dome and next-generation missile defense, and closing the southern border and strengthening our homeland security,” Strong said.

In September, President Trump announced that U.S. Space Command will establish its permanent headquarters at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, a decision driven by national security priorities and mission readiness.

“Today, I proudly say: promises made, promises KEPT,” Strong said.

“North Alabama has always been critical to our nation’s defense, and President Trump made clear that U.S. Space Command belongs where mission readiness comes first. I’m proud to have been a part of the process to bring Space Command HQ to its rightful home every step of the way — first as Chairman of the Madison County Commission and now as the Congressman representing the home of Space Command. This has been one of the most rewarding achievements of 2025.”

The congressman also praised the passed of key tax cuts and investments that will benefit the people of the Yellowhammer State.

“The Working Families Tax Cut Act is delivering real relief for working families, strengthening our economy, securing the border, and cutting wasteful spending,” he said. “This bill invests in North Alabama’s space, defense, and manufacturing industries while putting more money back in the pockets of families, farmers, and small business owners.”

Strong voted in favor of final passage of the Working Families Tax Cut Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.

The legislation includes:

As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology, Congressman Strong led several legislative efforts aimed at addressing the threats to our homeland, including:

“Protecting our homeland requires constant vigilance across many fronts – from securing our borders and preventing illegal crossings, to addressing emerging threats posed by drones, cyberattacks, and bioterrorism,” Strong said. “Our nation faces complex and evolving challenges, including drug and human trafficking, threats to mass gatherings and critical infrastructure, and risks to our agricultural and food systems. We must ensure that we have strong laws, innovative technology, and coordinated enforcement to safeguard our communities.”

When it comes to national security, Strong highlighted his efforts to strengthen the military.

“I came to Congress to protect and defend our national security; safeguarding our national security requires investing in a strong national defense,” he said. “As the United States faces unprecedented threats from our adversaries, such as China, Russia, and Iran, we must continue to ensure our warfighters are equipped with the best available tools and resources.”

His achievements in national security include:

Strong also promoted some key investments that he secured for North Alabama.

For Fiscal Year 2026:

Strong now says he’s looking forward to what needs to be done in 2026.

“It has been a great year with a Republican majority and President Trump leading the way,” Strong continued. “In the year ahead, my focus will remain on turning conservative priorities into concrete results, championing North Alabama’s capabilities, and continuing our work to put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Alabamians.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) are lauding the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2026, which made it through the Senate by a bipartisan 77-20.

“The NDAA has passed annually for 65 years in a row and is one of our nation’s most important pieces of legislation. I’m proud to have supported the FY26 NDAA,” Britt said, “which executes on President Trump’s and Senate Republicans’ commitment to strengthen our nation’s military capabilities and warfighter, ensure America remains equipped to meet 21st-centrury threats, and maintain our global military leadership.”

The the $901 billion bill puts in place the next year’s Defense priorities and authorizes spending levels for Defense and national security programs.

The bill cleared the Senate after passing in the House last week with the support of ever member of Alabama’s delegation.

“It will continue historic improvements in the quality of life for our service members and their families,” U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said. “It will build the ready, capable and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and our other adversaries.”

https://x.com/HASCRepublicans/status/2001807029166358767

Britt and Tuberville both highlighted the victories for Alabama that were included in the package.

“The role that Alabama plays in our national defense is incalculable,” Britt said. “Ensuring our state continues to play a central role in bolstering our warfighter and defense capabilities is pivotal, and I’m proud to have helped deliver continued investment in our state.”

“As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I’m also very proud of the wins included for Alabama’s defense industries and installations,” Tuberville said.

“This includes funding for President Trump’s Golden Dome, much of which will be housed and researched at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. We also authorized procurement and modernization funding for the MH-139 gray wolf helicopter fleet at Maxwell Air Force Base, and the investments and our ship readiness will be made in Sweet Home, Alabama.”

The legislation addresses readiness concerns at Alabama bases, including the understaffing of gate guards like at Redstone Arsenal by authorizing contract guards to augment existing force protection options at military installations, expedites construction of Space Command’s headquarters in Huntsville, and more.

Tuberville also pointed out the parts of the bill that dismantle to DEI programs in the military that were put in place by former President Joe Biden.

“First and foremost, we were able to secure a pay raise for all of our brave service men and women, and to make some key improvements to military housing,” he explained.

“Second, we cut more than 40 million taxpayer dollars that were funding woke DEI policies in the military and prohibited military resources from being used to censor conservative outlets. The third thing was to protect women’s sports at U.S. service academies.”

https://x.com/SenTuberville/status/2001431214855475452

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will travel to Redstone Arsenal for a ceremony on Friday to mark the future site of U.S. Space Command’s permanent headquarters.

U.S. Space Command General Stephen Whiting announced the visit during the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber’s annual Redstone Update at the Von Braun Center on Wednesday.

He told local leaders that Secretary Hegseth is expected on post Friday afternoon for an unveiling ceremony at the designated headquarters site on Redstone.

According to General Whiting, U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink will also be in attendance.

The event will formally mark the ground where Space Command’s permanent headquarters complex will be built.

It comes ahead of major construction activity on the arsenal, according to an Army Materiel Command release and local briefings.

Whiting said Space Command’s move to Huntsville is already well underway, with a program management office now operating on Redstone, as planners work through facilities, workforce and transition details.

The Secretary’s visit this week will mark the first time the nation’s top defense official has stood on the future headquarters site since President Donald Trump’s September announcement from the Oval Office that Huntsville would be the permanent home of U.S. Space Command.

Trump’s final decision earlier this year brought a basing process politicized by the Biden administration to a well-welcomed conclusion.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

For Cindy Harris, leadership has never been about titles or recognition.

As Vice President and Group Manager of Emerging & Disruptive Technologies at Radiance Technologies, she has dedicated her career to building a workplace culture where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered.

Her approach centers on service, humility, and integrity—principles that guide how she leads teams and shapes culture.

Family first, leadership always

When asked what she is most proud of, Harris began with family.

“What brings me the greatest joy and reason to be proud is having guided my two children to become responsible adults who make significant contributions to the defense industry in the areas of accounting and engineering. I take pleasure in witnessing their exemplary work ethic, commitment to excellence, and the kindness they show to their co-workers.”

She explained that her children’s success represents more than career achievements—it reflects the values of hard work, integrity, and compassion that she has always believed are the foundation for a meaningful life.

For Harris, seeing them not only excel professionally but also treat others with kindness is a greater accomplishment than any title she has earned.

Harris also pointed to professional milestones.

From a leadership perspective, she described becoming a Vice President at Radiance Technologies, where she leads highly accomplished technical professionals and helps influence career paths and success, as one of her most meaningful achievements.

Under her leadership, Radiance has repeatedly been recognized as one of Huntsville’s best places to work and as a top defense contractor employer nationally.

She views these honors as evidence that investing in employees, valuing their contributions, and fostering servant leadership create long-term organizational strength.

Trailblazers in her corner

When asked about women who inspire her, Harris highlighted the women leaders she works with at Radiance. She described them as trailblazers who set examples of integrity and professionalism.

More than colleagues, they are friends and encouragers who model servant leadership day in and day out.

Harris said these women remind her daily that leadership is about integrity, compassion, and lifting others. Their influence has shaped how she encourages and mentors her own teams, creating a ripple effect of servant leadership throughout the organization.

By following their example, she strives to ensure that the next generation of leaders at Radiance are prepared not just with technical expertise but also with the humility to serve others.

Finding purpose in service

Harris said that two commitments give her a strong sense of purpose in her work.

The first is the responsibility of leading others in ways that affect their well‑being, their contributions, and their career advancement.

The second is Radiance’s mission as a defense contractor: to provide products and services that protect the American Warfighter and our freedom.

She emphasized that serving others, whether within her organization or in the community, provides her work with deep meaning.

“Purpose comes when I see people succeed—when they achieve goals, grow into leadership roles, or gain confidence they didn’t know they had,” she said.

Working in Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park near Redstone Arsenal, Harris sees daily how Alabamians support both the local economy and the nation’s defense and space programs.

She explained that this work matters deeply to Alabama because the defense and aerospace industries provide opportunities for families across the state, strengthening both communities and the workforce.

Radiance’s success, she noted, is tied directly to Alabama’s growth, demonstrating how individual companies can help build statewide prosperity.

From engineer to executive

In reflecting on her career journey, Harris described how it began with a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where she participated in NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s Cooperative Education Program.

After completing her degree, she entered the defense industry as an engineer and later completed an M.S. in Electrical Engineering.

Over the years, Harris advanced through roles including Functional Engineering Manager, Project Engineer, Program Manager, and Operations Manager—experiences that prepared her to step into her current role as Vice President and Emerging & Disruptive Technologies Group Manager at Radiance Technologies.

Each of these roles, she explained, helped her develop not only technical expertise but also the leadership skills necessary to guide people and projects with integrity.

Harris said the technical foundation she built early in her career gave her credibility, but it was her willingness to mentor others and invest in relationships that allowed her to grow into a servant leader.

Her story illustrates how combining engineering knowledge with people-focused leadership can shape careers, strengthen organizations, and create opportunities for others to succeed.

Leading with integrity and resilience

Asked which qualities define strong leadership, Harris emphasized three traits: unwavering integrity, genuine concern for employees’ well‑being, and steadfast resilience.

She explained that these qualities allow leaders to build trust, ensure people feel valued, and guide teams through both challenges and successes.

Integrity, she noted, creates trust that enables teams to work together effectively.

Concern for people ensures that employees feel seen and supported, while resilience gives leaders the strength to persevere in difficult times. Harris believes these traits are critical for shaping a workplace where employees can thrive and feel empowered.

Her belief in servant leadership underscores each of these qualities.

For Harris, the measure of leadership is not the accomplishments of one person but the growth of an entire team.

She said her goal is always to create opportunities for others to succeed, to help them learn, and to ensure they have the confidence and resources to reach their potential.

A Woman of Impact

Whether mentoring the next generation, supporting technical teams, or upholding a mission that safeguards the nation, Cindy Harris’s leadership is measured by the people she serves.

Grounded in family and committed to Alabama’s workforce and defense community, her influence is felt in the culture she builds and the lives she helps shape.

Her accomplishments at Radiance, her dedication to mentoring others, and her devotion to her family reflect a legacy defined not by titles but by the impact she has on people.

For Harris, success is seeing others thrive—and that commitment to people is what makes her one of Yellowhammer News‘ 2025 Women of Impact.

7. University of Alabama fraternities held vigils across campus to honor Charlie Kirk, with members lighting candles and sharing memories of his conservative activism, while the NFL held a moment of silence during the Green Bay Packers-Washington former-Redskins game, as well.

6. The U.S. Department of Education terminated funding for Minority-Serving Institution grants that relied on racial quotas, redirecting the funds to “under-resourced” students regardless of race, and leading to speculation that half-decade-plus-long desegregation orders may fall next.

5. The Consumer Price Index rose 0.2% in August 2025, mostly because of gas prices, leading to a slightly higher than optimal annual rate of 2.5%, despite speculation about President Donald Trump’s tariffs, prompting Federal Reserve rate cut speculation, but a record high stock market may make that unlikely.

4. Immigration authorities arrested 21 suspected illegal immigrants (28 total) en route to a Franklin County poultry plant, with Sheriff Shannon Oliver confirming two checkpoints were used to aggressively target this issue..

3. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) successfully inserted a measure into legislation allowing Redstone Arsenal to hire contract security forces to help end long lines at the gates for its nearly 50,000 personnel, help protect military assets, and prepare for the move of Space Command.

2. Wired magazine says, “Right-Wing Activists Are Targeting People for Allegedly Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s Death,” but they are whining about an anonymous website posting identifying details of individuals who are doing this. Now those people are getting fired.

1. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) called Charlie Kirk’s assassination a political act and Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) hailed him as one of the greatest American voices lost to political violence.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN

Addressing the concerns of Redstone Arsenal officials and those who work on the sprawling facility, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong championed a provision to allow military installations to contract personnel for security guard functions when enlisted soldiers are not available.

The language proposed by Strong in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 ensures Redstone Arsenal is able to maintain secure, efficient access for the thousands of employees, contractors, and service members who enter through its gates daily.

“Every day, nearly 50,000 men and women come to work on Redstone Arsenal,” said Strong (R-Huntsville). “Unlike other military bases and installations, Redstone does not have a large population of junior enlisted personnel to help fill the gaps with gate security positions.

“I thank (House Armed Services Chairman Mike) Rogers for including this provision to allow military installations – like Redstone – to contract personnel for security guard functions, ensuring installation access is secure and seamless for our personnel.”

Last month, Redstone Arsenal changed the operational hours of Gate 3 due to federal funding cuts and hiring freezes.

The move follows a similar one in June when Gate 8 on Goss Road was closed to traffic after an assessment of current security measures, operational needs, and available resources.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizes policy and appropriations for the Department of Defense, nuclear weapons programs within the Department of Energy, and other defense-related activities.

The NDAA, which passed the House by a vote of 231 to 196, awaits consideration in the Senate. Once passed, the two versions will be conferenced to resolve differences before going to the president’s desk for his signature.

Courtesy of 256 Today.

During a visit with Mayor Tommy Battle at Huntsville City Hall on Monday, Gen. Stephen Whiting emphasized a fast, disciplined transition to Redstone Arsenal — and praised the North Alabama community he said has already rolled out the welcome mat.

“All of Huntsville, Madison, Madison County, all of North Alabama, has been very welcoming, and we’re thrilled to be here on the ground,” Whiting said. “You know, our job right now is to figure out how expeditiously, in a professional and disciplined manner, we can start to make the move that the President has directed, all while continuing our vital national security missions, which is to defend American interests in space. And so we’re excited to partner with you and with with all the leaders across North Alabama and Redstone Arsenal to bring this to fruition.”

President Trump announced last week that SPACECOM will relocate from its current site in Colorado Springs to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, reversing a political decision in 2023 by President Joe Biden to keep the command in Colorado.

In doing so, Trump’s move capped years of reviews that repeatedly ranked Huntsville among the top sites and intense campaigning by Alabama lawmakers.

Whiting said his command is partnering with Huntsville to ensure the transition goes “as smoothly and as expeditiously as possible.”

Asked to frame Space Command’s mission and makeup, he stressed its joint character and growing importance to the nation.

“Space Command is just over six years old. This iteration of Space Command, and as I mentioned, our job is to defend American interests in space. Inside the Department of Defense, there are 11 unified combatant commands. We are joint commands. We’re made up of members of all the services. So yes, I am a member of the US Space Force, but I have army personnel, Navy personnel, Air Force, Marine Corps personnel, even some international partners in our headquarters,” he said. “And our job, each and every day is to wake up to think about, how can we use our space capabilities to make America more, you know, more strong and to defend United States interests and our citizens. So as that headquarters moves here to Huntsville, that will continue to be our job, but space is only becoming more important to our national economy, to our national way of life. And so, you know, we look forward to partnering here with you to execute those missions from here at Redstone.”


Linking Huntsville’s legacy to America’s future in space, Whiting looked ahead to decades of exploration and deterrence.

“You mentioned that incredible history that’s here. And in one sense — it is. It’s a long history. But within the lifetime of people that are here in this community, the Space Age started, imagine what the next 60 to 70 years are going to look like, you know, as we continue to Launch out into the stars, go back to the moon and go, you know, to the outer planets, that’s an exciting future,” he said. “And you know, we’ve appreciated the great support we’ve gotten from the people of Colorado and Colorado Springs and and now we want to, you know, again, partner with you to make sure this this transition is as goes as smoothly and as expeditiously as possible.”

“It’s clear that the entire community shares your sentiments. We had a chance to meet with Mayor Finley this morning from Madison, and we’ll meet with Chairman McCutcheon later today from Madison County, and then senators and congressmen from Alabama later this week. And so thank you for the warm welcome.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

After years of political scheming by the left, President Trump is bringing Space Command (SPACECOM) headquarters back to its rightful home in Huntsville, Alabama.

This was never supposed to be about politics. After a thorough and highly competitive selection process, Huntsville was chosen as the best home for SPACECOM in 2021.

In fact, three different Air Force Secretaries – including Joe Biden’s Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall – have confirmed that Redstone Arsenal is the best home for U.S. Space Command.

Unfortunately, Joe Biden made this political when he disregarded the Air Force, Government Accountability Office (GAO), and DOD’s Inspector General – who all validated the process – and announced he was keeping it to Colorado instead.

This is particularly concerning because the current location was only meant to be temporary and is spread out between four buildings, two of which are unsecure in a residential area, not even on a military base. This is a serious national security issue and needs to be addressed. Luckily, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth have taken action to fix the problem.

It’s important to understand how we got here. In 2020, the U.S. Air Force conducted a study to determine the best site for constructing SPACECOM’s permanent home.

The process was extremely thorough and considered 66 different locations in 24 different states. Out of ALL of the options, Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville was overwhelmingly chosen as the preferred location for the headquarters in 2021. After inauguration, Joe Biden immediately suspended the relocation and then, ultimately in 2023, went against the “best military advice” in the country and kept SPACECOM HQ in Colorado Springs.

Beyond the independent reviews that have confirmed Huntsville as the best location for SPACECOM, it’s also just common sense. Huntsville already has the infrastructure needed to support SPACECOM, unlike Colorado Springs, which STILL has communication and personnel challenges, according to the GAO report. Not to mention that moving HQ to Huntsville will save American taxpayers more than $420 million.

Redstone Arsenal already has a robust presence in related industry and government organizations like NASA, Missile Defense Agency, and Space Development Agency.

Additionally, Huntsville will have the housing, infrastructure, and resources needed to support all of the jobs this would bring to the state. SPACECOM would bring at least 1,700 workers and their families to the Rocket City and would create thousands of jobs for Alabamians. Knowing the facts, it is hard to argue that it makes sense for SPACECOM to be anywhere other than Redstone Arsenal.

The delegation has tirelessly worked in unison to reverse this disastrous political cronyism. Thankfully, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth are putting our nation’s security first and moving SPACECOM to the place where it will be most effective and provide the most value to taxpayers.

President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and Secretary Meink are restoring merit and integrity to the military. Space is the next frontier and will play an enormous role in future potential conflicts.

It is imperative that the United States is positioned to dominate this domain. Alabama is just the place to ensure that happens. I’m excited to see the state and its residents realize their full potential by providing this critical capability in support of our nation.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville is the senior senator from Alabama, a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans Affairs committee, and a candidate for governor in 2026.

Alabama leaders cheered a Trump Administration decision today to announce the selection of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the permanent headquarters for U.S. Space Command.

The move mark a major milestone in the nation’s strategic defense posture and means an estimated 1,400 Space Command jobs will transition to Redstone Arsenal over the next five years.

“As I have said all along, there is no better place to locate Space Command Headquarters than in Huntsville, Alabama,” Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement. “Today, the facts prevailed, and it is official: Space Command Headquarters is coming to Sweet Home Alabama.”

She commended officials in the City of Huntsville and the state’s Congressional delegation for working tirelessly to secure Space Command HQ for Alabama’s “Rocket City.”

“As our history shows, Alabama always stands ready to support the defense of our great nation, and Huntsville continues providing the Rocket City is truly ‘Space Central,’” Governor Ivey added.

The command’s missions are to advance the military’s extensive operations in space and to seek more effective ways to protect U.S. assets such as satellites that are crucial for communications, navigation and surveillance.

“This decision is not about what’s best for Huntsville – it’s about being mission-focused,” Mayor Tommy Battle said in a statement. “The decision to locate U.S. Space Command at Redstone ensures our nation is prepared to meet growing challenges in space.

“Huntsville is ready with our experienced workforce, resilient infrastructure and deep commitment to national defense,” he added.

‘Rocket City’ resources

For Huntsville, the announcement that it has been picked to host Space Command’s Headquarters comes with a strong sense of déjà vu.

On Jan. 13, 2021, the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force announced that Huntsville had been selected as the preferred location for the headquarters of the new U.S. Space Command.

That statement said the Department of the Air Force had conducted both virtual and on-site visits to assess which of six candidate locations would be best suited to host the U.S. Space Command HQ based on factors related to mission, infrastructure capacity, community support and cost.

It added that Huntsville compared favorably across more of these factors than any other community, providing a large, qualified workforce, quality schools, superior infrastructure capacity, and low initial and recurring costs.

The decision was later reversed by President Joe Biden in favor of Colorado.

It’s difficult to argue, however, that Huntsville isn’t a deserving choice as the Headquarters site of the Space Command.

For starters, Huntsville is home to Redstone Arsenal, which has been the center of the U.S. Army’s missile and rocket programs for more than 50 years.

The nation’s first ballistic missile was developed at Redstone, and it today hosts a number of military organizations, including the Army’s Aviation and Missile Command, Space and Missile Defense Command, and the Missile Defense Agency.

Also located at Redstone is NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, which designed the Saturn V rockets that powered the Apollo program moon landings and continues to lead the nation’s space program.

In addition, Huntsville ranks high among top metro areas for STEM occupations and is well-known nationally as one of the top cities for aerospace engineers.

“This is a landmark moment for Alabama, and it reflects the state’s continued leadership in aerospace, innovation and national defense,” said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “With its proven talent pipeline, world-class research assets and a deep bench of industry expertise, Huntsville offers Space Command an ecosystem uniquely equipped to support its mission.

“We’re honored by this decision and ready to support every phase of growth ahead.”

Courtesy of the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website. 

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) responded to concerns from some officials in Colorado who are politically burned, and warning that the existing U.S. Space Command workforce won’t be willing to move to Alabama.

President Donald Trump announced from the Oval Office Tuesday that U.S. Space Command’s permanent headquarters will be located in Huntsville.

“Uprooting Space Command will weaken national security and readiness, waste taxpayer dollars, and inconvenience military families,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis wrote in a statement posted to X.

“In 2023, President Biden made the decision to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs to ensure our national security in the space domain and because U.S. Space Command was about to reach Full Operational Capability at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, which it did in December.”

Strong said the Yellowhammer State has plenty of people who will be willing and qualified to take the jobs those in Colorado don’t want — and that local, state and federal officials are fully prepared.

“And of course, they’re like, ‘Well, what if none move?’ I said, ‘Let me tell you something the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, tech, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State,” Strong said. “I’ll promise you, we’ll fill it with qualified people.'”

The congressman also discussed all the benefits this move will entail to the American taxpayer and national security.

“It came back and compared several metropolitan areas, and it showed to do it in Huntsville was $426 million more economical to do it,” Strong explained.

“That said, Huntsville has the workforce, the technology, the security and everything that it needed. And then you start looking at some of those that were competing for it, and it just absolutely blistered their communities, saying, ‘Look, this is not a good mix. This is not where this needs to go.'”

“And a lot of people just don’t want to look at that GAO report or that [Inspector General] investigation. But you think right when I hit the ground my first day here, I said, I want to do what’s right for national security and all everything pointed it kept coming back: ‘Huntsville. Huntsville. Huntsville.'”

Strong says the leaders in Colorado are just thinking about their personal politics instead of what’s best for the future of Space Command.

“They did these 21 categories on two different occasions,” he said.

“The IG ruled that it was fair, that it was legal, then they do it again, and here it goes again. They didn’t like that was done because it once again, pointed that Redstone Arsenal had the workforce, had the technology, had the everything you look for, the cost to construct, the cost to maintain, and they California or Colorado just didn’t like that either. But I’ll tell you this right here, everybody that was on the floor last night was coming up congratulating saying, Huntsville, it was the right decision. Let’s move on down the road and get this project rolling.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Fresh off the heels of a major win for the State of Alabama with the announcement that the Trump Administration will permanently return Space Command headquarters to its original home in Huntsville, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) took a victory lap in praise of Alabama.

“What this means for the community, what this means for small business, and what this means for Huntsville, this process has shown us the worst of Washington, D.C., Dale, and I believe that Huntsville is going to show America the very best of our country,” Britt said of the move.

Despite universal excitement from Alabama lawmakers, leaders in Colorado — the state Space Command will soon leave behind — have lashed out at Trump, with the state’s Attorney General even threatening legal action in an attempt to stop the move.

“When you look at Colorado, I mean, back on kind of talking about football, I mean, we knew that was a bad call on the field that was going to go to the booth and get overturned, and that’s exactly what happened,” Britt said on Wednesday.

“I mean, you had President Trump put out, you know, people didn’t like the first decision, so he said, ‘Okay, here’s the metrics we’re going to do. We’re going to re-compete. We’re going to do a nationwide competition.’ Guess what? Alabama won.”

Britt lambasted the Biden Administration’s 2023 decision to locate Space Command in Colorado Springs over numerous official government recommendations and questioned if then-President Biden was even fully aware of the situation.

“Queue Joe Biden administration comes in… Then their Secretary of the Air Force says, ‘Yes, Alabama — Redstone Arsenal — is where it needs to be.’ Then, President Biden decided to inject politics,” Britt said.

“…Here’s the deal. Now, looking at this, who knows if President Biden even actually made that call? I mean, we know that autopen-in-chief was in, you know, kind of sort of full-effect. So who knows who made the decision to pull it from Alabama, a red state, and then give it to, you know, the first blue state on the list, which was on down the list, Colorado?”

Putting past grievances aside, the Senator expressed optimism about Space Command’s future in Huntsville.

“At the end of the day, we know this is about national security, and this is about the war-fighter, and this is going to be tremendous, obviously, for our nation, but it’s a big day for Alabama, because the multiplier of this and what this means, taking all of the incredible work that is done at Redstone, placing this in its midst, we know that war-fighting in the 21st Century is is going to happen, much of it, in space. And so for that connectivity to be right here in Alabama is huge for us.”

Riley McArdle is a contributor for Yellowhammer News. He is a Senior majoring in Political Science at the University of Alabama and currently serves as Chairman of the College Republican Federation of Alabama. You can follow him on X @rileykmcardle.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis took to social media on Tuesday afternoon to air grievances after President Donald Trump announced the Department of Defense will permanently return U.S. Space Command’s headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.

“Uprooting Space Command will weaken national security and readiness, waste taxpayer dollars, and inconvenience military families,” Polis wrote in a statement posted to X.

“In 2023, President Biden made the decision to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs to ensure our national security in the space domain and because U.S. Space Command was about to reach Full Operational Capability at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, which it did in December.”

https://x.com/GovofCO/status/1962967355614478501

Polis’ statement conveniently failed to acknowledge a Department of Defense (DOD) report, released in April, that found that an Alabama-based Space Command would save taxpayers $426 million, as opposed to the Colorado headquarters.

Many have speculated that Biden’s decision was purely political, citing U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Auburn) strategic holds on hundreds of military promotions in protest of a Biden DOD policy that paid for servicemembers’ travel to obtain abortions. Tuberville stalled most of the promotions throughout 2023, but the Biden Administration denied that the protest had anything to do with the decision.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser also took issue with Trump’s announcement in a statement on X, writing, “Moving Space Command Headquarters to Alabama is not only wrong for our national defense, but it’s harmful to hundreds of Space Command personnel and their families.”

Weiser went on to threaten legal action should the move proceed as planned.

“The Colorado Attorney General’s Office has been preparing in the event the president made such an unlawful decision to move Space Command HQ. If the Trump administration takes this step – I’m prepared to challenge it in court.”

https://x.com/COAttnyGeneral/status/1962944897305960510

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall fired back at Weiser, saying that Alabama is “not sweating” a court battle.

https://x.com/AGSteveMarshall/status/1963029272177815757

Riley McArdle is a contributor for Yellowhammer News. He is a Senior majoring in Political Science at the University of Alabama and currently serves as Chairman of the College Republican Federation of Alabama. You can follow him on X @rileykmcardle.

From Dr. Wernher von Braun and his rocket team to the space program’s growth to the Base Realignment And Closure moves to the most recent FBI expansion on Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville has a long history of welcoming major military-related moves.

With Tuesday’s announcement of the U.S. Space Command moving its headquarters here, the Huntsville, Madison County and Limestone County area is well-prepared.

“City, county, state, and federal partners have worked side by side to prepare for this opportunity,” said Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon. “Now, we’re ready to welcome Space Command and help facilitate its long-term success.”

Huntsville’s history of relocating major federal agencies to Redstone – including Army Materiel Command, Army Aviation and key FBI operations – validates its capability to manage this transition. With 65 federal agencies already based there, the region offers unmatched experience and mission support.

“Our community has a proven track record of supporting the Department of Defense when they have moved key functions and stood up new operations,” said Chip Cherry, CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. “We will use that experience to support the personnel associated with Space Command and their families as they relocate to the Huntsville region.”

Huntsville has invested heavily to ensure mission readiness, including:

“These investments reflect years of long-range planning to prepare our city for future growth,” Huntsville Mayor Battle said. They demonstrate Huntsville’s commitment to being mission-ready from day one.”

State Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) will represent future SPACECOM constituents in Alabama House District 21, which covers territory spanning from downtown Huntsville, all the way Northeast to New Market.

Reynolds, Mayor Battle, Chairman McCutcheon, and other officials were together at City Hall on Tuesday to coordinate as the announcement came down from Washington, D.C.

“We, as Legislators, look forward to welcoming Space Command to Huntsville and stand ready to provide the necessary resources to ensure the transition is successful,” Reynolds wrote on Tuesday.


While the thousands of coming jobs will be on Redstone, the move will also have a tremendous economic ripple effect throughout the metro area.

“As the fastest-growing county in Alabama, Limestone County is perfectly positioned to support this expansion, offering quality workforce development, excellent infrastructure, and the community support these service members and their families deserve,” said Beth Shockney, president and CEO of the Limestone County Economic Development Association.

“Our region has successfully executed similar major relocations before, and that experience will serve us well as we welcome Space Command to the Tennessee Valley.”

Courtesy of 256 Today.

In a high-profile announcement from the Oval Office of the White House, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. Space Command’s permanent headquarters will be located in Huntsville. 

Joined by Alabama’s U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and Alabama Congressmen Mike Rogers, Robert Aderholt, Gary Palmer, Barry Moore and Dale Strong – Trump brought an end to years of delay and politicization by the Biden administration.

“As you know, this has been going on for a long period of time, and I am thrilled to report that the U.S. Space Command Headquarters will move to the beautiful locale of a place called Huntsville, Alabama,” President Trump said, “forever to be known from this point forward as Rocket City.”

“We love Alabama.”

“This will result in more than 30,000 Alabama jobs, and probably much more than that, and hundreds of millions of dollars of investment. And that’s billions, because it can’t be millions, it’s billions and billions of dollars. Most importantly, this decision will help America defend and dominate the high frontier, as they call it,” President Trump said.

https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1962951867081601307

Today’s announcement is the final chapter in a situation that began in 2021 when the U.S. Air Force selected Redstone Arsenal as the preferred site, identifying Huntsville as objectively best suited for the mission. 

President Joe Biden stalled and ultimately reversed the process in July 2023, opting instead to locate the headquarters in Colorado Springs.

Throughout the remainder of Biden’s administration, Alabama’s congressional delegation unleashed a relentless campaign to investigate the decisionmaking process and secure the merit-based choice to base the headquarters in Huntsville. 

Numerous government reviews have since reaffirmed that Huntsville won on the merits, which Alabama lawmakers celebrated on Tuesday.

In March 2023, Yellowhammer News published a non-public, 87-page Government Accountability Office report showing Redstone ranked first in both the Air Force’s Evaluation and Selection phases, while Colorado Springs ranked fifth in the final Selection Phase.

On Tuesday, President Trump also said Space Command in Huntsville would play a key role in building the “Golden Dome” missile-defense shield, which help keep U.S. technological capabilities unmatched.

U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) each spoke from the White House on Tuesday.

“This move will save the taxpayers $480 million. It’s not going to cost more — it’s going to cut $480 million, we have the plans intact,” Tuberville said.

“It will be behind a secure wall in Huntsville, Alabama — Redstone Arsenal. We have 40,000 people there. We have the FBI there. We have missile defense. There we have NASA, Blue Origin, and SpaceX. It is the perfect place for Space Command, I would tell you today, and again, I’ve spoke with the President for the last three or four years about this. If I thought it needed to go somewhere else, because I understand the security of our country, I’d be for that,” Tuberville continued.

“But the best place for Space Command is Huntsville, Alabama, because what we have and what it means to this country is going to be so important. So thank you, Mr. President, for this, and we look forward to building a huge space command and having the ‘Donald J. Trump Space Command Center’ in Huntsville, Alabama,” Tuberville said.

U.S. Senator Katie Britt also thanked President Trump and said that locating the permanent Space Command headquarters at Redstone Arsenal is in the best national security interest of the United States.

“To the detriment of U.S. national security, President Biden chose to undermine the integrity of the process and put politics ahead of merit by yanking this military decision out of the Air Force’s hands.”

“I’m deeply grateful to President Trump and Secretary Hegseth for their commitment to keep politics out of this basing decision and allow the Air Force to proceed with doing its job. Alabama’s world-class aerospace and defense workforce, capabilities, and synergies stand ready to fulfill the mission and strengthen our national security long into the future,” Britt continued.

“I’m proud that Alabama’s congressional delegation – working tirelessly together on a bipartisan basis – has won this fight on behalf of our great state and America’s national security interests.”

Two Alabama congressmen, Chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) and U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville), who’s district includes Redstone Arsenal, were on the forefront of the fight to maintain Alabama as the final headquarters location.

“Space Command is finally coming home to Alabama. This announcement by President Trump is yet another in a long line of strong decisions that benefit America’s national security,” Rogers said.

“Alabama was chosen in 2021 because it was the absolute best location for the Space Command headquarters. Today, in 2025, it remains the best location for our national security and for the taxpayer. This basing decision has been affirmed and reaffirmed by multiple agencies and multiple officials throughout both the Trump and Biden administrations. Biden was content to have Space Command located in the fourth best location because it served him politically. The differences between him and President Trump has never been clearer.”

Rogers concluded, “On this historic day, I am extremely proud to be an American, proud to be an Alabamian, and proud to support the Administration who made this possible.”

U.S. Space Command is a unified combatant command that plans, fights, and integrates U.S. military space power. It is distinct from the U.S. Space Force, which organizes and equips space forces that Space Command employs in operations. 

The original Space Command stood up in 1985, was folded into U.S. Strategic Command in 2002, and was re-established in 2019.

It employs roughly 1,700 personnel and oversees global military space operations. 

Moving the headquarters is a multi-year project that entails facilities work, workforce planning, and phased transition of staff and functions. 

Unofficial estimates indicate it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but ultimately align the command with the Air Force’s most cost-effective, mission-ready option. 

Huntsville offers an ideal ecosystem, including Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and a major defense-industrial base, that leaders say will speed full operational maturity at a lower long-run cost than any other alternative.

North Alabama’s Congressman, Dale Strong, celebrated the news from the White House today, saying that Space Command is returning to its rightful home.

“I join all of Alabama in welcoming Space Command to our great state. I’ve said all along that basing the Headquarters in Huntsville is not a political decision; it’s a national security one. North Alabama has long been the linchpin of defending our interests at home and abroad, and we are prepared to now do our part in defending American interests in space,” Strong said.

“It’s been rewarding to play a role in every step of this process and to ensure that Space Command’s Headquarters rightfully resides in the most capable and best-equipped community – which has been proven time and again to be Redstone Arsenal.”

Strong added, “I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Hegseth for their commitment to doing what is best for the security and future of our nation, and I remain grateful for the unified support of the entire Alabama delegation along the way. I am excited for all that is to come, and now – it’s time to move dirt.”

According to the City of Huntsville, about 1,400 Space Command jobs will transition to Redstone Arsenal over the next five years and that state and local partners have reaffirmed their original commitments made during the original 2020 site selection process.

“This decision is not about what’s best for Huntsville – it’s about being mission-focused,” said Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle.

“The decision to locate U.S. Space Command at Redstone ensures our nation is prepared to meet growing challenges in space. Huntsville is ready with our experienced workforce, resilient infrastructure and deep commitment to national defense.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

Alabama stands to gain nearly $119.4 million in military funding under the 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations Act, a bill championed by U.S. Senator Katie Britt. The legislation, which has advanced out of committee and is expected to be considered by the full Senate this week, includes direct funding for major infrastructure improvements at key military installations across the state.

Britt (R-Montgomery), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured nearly $32.4 million to be allocated to Alabama’s military bases.

RELATED: U.S. Senator Katie Britt secures more than $1 billion for Alabama’s military installations, families in 2025 NDAA (2024)

In a statement, Britt highlighted the significance of the proposed investments.

“The future of our national defense infrastructure and warfighter will be stronger because of these investments in Alabama’s world-class capabilities,” said Britt. “Now more than ever, we need to protect our homeland from 21st-century threats. I know Alabama will be indispensable to ensuring America’s military readiness and unmatched lethality across the globe. I’m deeply proud to advance these wins for our state and look forward to getting this funding over the finish line to bring our tax dollars home to our communities.”

If enacted, the legislation would benefit four major military sites in Alabama:

Nationally, the 2026 MilCon-VA Appropriations Act proposes $19.8 billion for Department of Defense construction efforts across more than 280 global projects. It also includes $133.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, ensuring continued support for VA medical care and services.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at sherri@yellowhammernews.com.

A former Missile Defense Agency official at Redstone Arsenal has been confirmed to lead the Department of Defense’s Golden Dome project.

Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, the vice chief of space operations for the Space Force, was confirmed as Golden Dome czar in a unanimous vote Thursday by the U.S. Senate, according to U.S. Rep. Dale Strong.

RELATED: Dale Strong announces formation of Golden Dome caucus in U.S. House

Guetlein served as the Program Executive for Programs and Integration within the MDA at Redstone Arsenal from April 2017 to June 2019.

“President Trump’s decision to have General Guetlein serve as the Golden Dome Czar is a strategic move to strengthen our national defense at a critical time,” said Strong (R-Huntsville), a co-chair of the Congressional Golden Dome Caucus. “I applaud the Senate for swiftly taking up his nomination, and I look forward to working with him to defend our homeland and advance the Golden Dome’s mission to keep Americans safe.”

RELATED: Britt joins GOP colleagues to introduce Golden Dome legislation

The Congressional Golden Dome Caucus was established last month, directing the implementation of a “next-generation missile defense shield for the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks.”

“Congratulations to General Guetlein on his confirmation,” U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.), also a co-chair of the caucus. “I am confident that under his leadership, President Trump’s vision to innovate our homeland missile defense through Golden Dome will soon become a reality – creating a strong deterrence against our adversaries.

“I look forward to working with General Guetlein to ensure Congress is providing as much support as possible for this essential program.”

Courtesy of 256 Today

After witnessing the success of Israel’s “Iron Dome” missile defense system, President Trump pushed for a similar program for the United States.

Now, with the backing of several Republican senators, there is a bill to create the system: Ground and Orbital Launched Defeat of Emergent Nuclear Destruction and Other Missile Engagements Act.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt joined Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and other Senate Republican colleagues to introduce the legislation this week. The full text of the bill can be viewed here.

RELATED: Tuberville boosts Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville area to build and operate Golden Dome

“Now more than ever, we need to protect our homeland from 21st-century threats,” Britt (R-Montgomery) said. “I’m proud to support President Trump’s bold vision to create a comprehensive missile defense system — the Golden Dome.

“The GOLDEN DOME Act will help President Trump achieve this mission, and I’m happy to cosponsor this legislation. I’ll continue to champion Alabama’s capabilities across our state that no doubt will play a pivotal role in advancing this groundbreaking initiative.”

The bill authorizes more than $23 billion to begin developing a modernized, layered homeland missile defense system that can counter, detect, track, and defeat existing and evolving threats as envisioned by Trump in a Jan. 27 executive order.

According to a news release from Britt’s office, the GOLDEN DOME Act is focused on enhancing the all-domain awareness of the U.S missile defense system, bolstering the capacity of U.S. missiles and drones to defend against threats from rogue nations as well as near-peer nations, and accelerating the development of new capabilities to keep pace with future threats, particularly from hypersonics and cruise missiles.

Notably, Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville is home to the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command and the Missile Defense Agency, which will both play a significant role in executing Golden Dome, Britt said.

Last month, Britt hosted Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to tour the Army’s capabilities on Redstone Arsenal.

Following the visit, she said, “Redstone is indispensable to advancing this mission of ensuring America’s military readiness and unmatched lethality. I’m proud to champion Redstone’s critical work and be an advocate for our service members in the Senate.”

Britt also attended the 2025 Paris Air Show, which showcases aerospace and defense manufacturers and suppliers from Alabama and across the globe. Alabama’s defense sector generates an estimated $23.5 billion in economic activity annually in the state.

“I will continue to work to support strategic investments in our great state to modernize our aerospace, defense, and intelligence capabilities, so that our nation achieves peace through strength,” she said after the show.

Calling Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville “probably the best-kept secret in this country,” U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville touted building and operating the proposed Golden Dome defense in the Rocket City.

Tuberville (R-Auburn) joined U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) at a press conference today to speak on the importance of the Golden Dome for America’s national security. He emphasized the need to invest in securing our airspace and ensure the U.S. is constantly on the cutting edge of defense technology.

“Countries like Iran are openly chanting ‘Death to America,’ and we have to be able to protect ourselves,” he said. “You know, there’s no better place to help design this and build and operate than in my home state — Redstone Arsenal [in] Huntsville, Alabama.

“And let me tell you something. It is probably the best-kept secret in this country.”

RELATED: Dale Strong announces formation of Golden Dome caucus in U.S. House

Tuberville highlighted the capabilities of Redstone Arsenal and the more than 500 defense contractors across North Alabama as well as Blue Origin in Huntsville and United Launch Alliance in Decatur, to help develop the Golden Dome.

“… For more than 80 years, Redstone Arsenal has been leading the way in space, cybersecurity, and national defense. Huntsville’s talent, facilities, and resources are second to none all over the world. According to Forbes, Huntsville has the most engineers per capita in the world,” he said. “That’s why you see more and more agencies expanding their footprint in Huntsville and the surrounding area — including Missile Defense Agency, NASA, FBI, Missile and Space Intelligence Center, Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Army Materiel Command.

“We will be big in building a lot of this Golden Dome. Huntsville helped put the first person on the moon. What better place to help begin the origination of Golden Dome than Huntsville, Alabama?”

Courtesy of 256 Today

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue to negotiate President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’,  the Senate’s version reportedly allocates millions in funding to North Alabama’s Marshall Space Flight Center and billions for projects being led by the NASA-affiliated entity.

Per the legislation posted by the Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday, MSFC will receive $100 million for infrastructure repairs and upgrades.

Additionally, the bill provides $4.1 billion for the Space Launch Systems of the Artemis IV and V missions. The SLS is the only human-related rocket available capable of transporting humans to the moon, and its development is being overseen by MSFC.

The center is also working on the development of the Gateway, a lunar-based space station. Under the bill, the program to create the facility will receive $2.6 billion.

RELATED: Britt, Tuberville speak out in defense of Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama’s role in space program

The massive combined sum is part of a larger package that would provide an additional $9.995 billion in the current fiscal year for NASA. Those funds would be available for NASA to spend through fiscal year 2032.

https://x.com/jamiedupree/status/1930748876648046706

U.S. Senator Katie Britt, a staunch supporter of the Marshall Space Flight Center, understands its value and contributions to NASA-related research.

“The Marshall Space Flight Center is second-to-none,” Britt (R-Montgomery) said. “As the incredible men and women at NASA, along with their partners in the private sector, continue to make historic leaps that broaden our understanding and expand the limits of human achievement, we must ensure that their groundbreaking work is supported.”

RELATED: Britt helps provide billion-dollar boost for NASA in Alabama

She referenced the launch systems that Marshall is helping to create.

“While we need to ensure the cost effectiveness of the program, the SLS rocket—the most powerful in world history—is the only rocket currently capable of taking astronauts and large cargo directly to lunar orbit in a single launch. We will need multiple solutions and capabilities for assured access to space.”

The Senate’s version of the bill has so far received the support of the Aerospace Industries Association and the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration.

“As industry continues to push into new frontiers and outpace our competitors in space, this effort shows Congress is dedicated to moving forward with mission-critical programs and maintaining our space leadership,” Eric Fanning, president and chief executive of AIA, said.

The Marshall Space Flight Center in Redstone Arsenal employs more than 6,000 with 2,3000 civil servants. Founded in 1960, the operation is the largest NASA center in the country and has an annual budget of approxi­mately $5 billion.

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

Space Command HQ can not fill jobs in Colorado because they know it is moving home to Alabama.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

A tornado that touched down Tuesday evening on Redstone Arsenal was the 14th tornado recorded in North Alabama over the past week.

A total of 13 tornadoes and one waterspout were confirmed across north Alabama from the May 20 severe weather outbreak, according to the National Weather Service Huntsville.

Related story: Weather office reports two EF-2 tornadoes and one EF-1 hit area Tuesday

iTuesday’s tornado on Redstone, called the Ranger Road tornado, was classified an EF-0 with estimated maximum winds of 83 mph.

The survey team said today the tornado “bent fencing while entering the property, then proceeded to shift dozens of 500-pound storage tanks, tossing about three of them.”

A metal frame storage building was also damaged – one side was collapsed with metal framework bent.

“Some of the contents of the building were tossed out and strewn downwind several hundred yards, found by on-site employees,” the summary said. “As quickly as the tornado developed, it dissipated short of Saturn Drive, with no further identifiable dame found downwind.”

Related story: Thousands without power; homes damaged, destroyed in wake of tornadoes

It was on the ground for just two minutes, 6:51-6:53 p.m., and traveled 25 yards, the  survey team reported.

For a summary of the tornadoes, click here.

Courtesy of 256 Today

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report Thursday, revealing some of the shortfalls in the process of reversing the decision to locate the new U.S. Space Command Headquarters (HQ) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

In 2023, then President Joe Biden announced that the Space Command HQ would remain in Colorado despite the Air Force Secretary identifying Redstone Arsenal as the best site just two years earlier.

RELATED: Mike Rogers announces ‘Space Command will officially be assigned to build its headquarters in Huntsville’

The report, done at the request of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, detailed the GAO’s findings from investigating the Air Force’s selection process, claiming it found failures to follow so-called “Analysis of Alternatives” (AOA) best practices.

“GAO believes that the AOA best practices are relevant and, if effectively implemented, can help ensure such basing decisions are transparent and deliberate,” the report reads. “Developing basing guidance consistent with these best practices, and determining the basing actions to which it should apply, would better position the Air Force to substantiate future basing decisions and help prevent bias, or the appearance of bias, from undermining their credibility.”

This report addresses steps the Air Force and other decision-makers took between May 2022 and July 2023 to identify the permanent headquarters location, the extent to which the Air Force basing reevaluation process incorporated relevant AOA best practices, and the status of U.S. Space Command headquarters as of fall 2024.

RELATED: Dale Strong ‘bullish’ that Huntsville will soon become U.S. Space Command’s final headquarters destination 

“The Air Force’s reevaluation process incorporated some elements of selected AOA best practices to revalidate its preferred location for U.S. Space Command headquarters. For example, the Air Force identified risks and mitigation strategies, and varied some costs associated with candidate locations as part of a sensitivity analysis. However, we found that shortfalls persisted in these areas and others, including the weighting of selection criteria,” the report concluded.

While it is widely expected that the newly confirmed Secretary of the Air Force, Troy Meink, will officially move the Space Command HQ back to Huntsville, nothing has been officially announced.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

According to the 2025-2026 Best Places to Live in the U.S. ranking by U.S. News and World Report, Huntsville is no longer one of the top cities on the list. In fact it is no longer even considered the best in the Yellowhammer State.

In the past three years Huntsville was ranked first, second, and then seventh on the list. This year the Rocket City fell all the way down to number 85.

Erika Giovanetti, consumer lending analyst at U.S. News & World Report, explained why there was such a dramatic decline.

“While the drop seems very extreme, it’s actually not that significant when you look at it proportionally and in fact any city that made the top 250 is considered to be a really great accomplishment,” she said. “The expansion of the 2025-2026 Best Places to Live rankings gives consumers a more detailed view into what it’s like to live somewhere at the community level, enabling them to consider more options for potential places to settle down.”

U.S. News expanded its data this year. They evaluated more than 850 cities and published the top 250 best places.

Taking the number one spot this year is Johns Creek, Georgia. The top city in Alabama is Hoover.

“Hoover is also home to the National Computer Forensics Institute, the nation’s premier law enforcement training facility specializing in cybercrime research,” the report states. “And thanks in part to its high marks for safety, Hoover is in the top third of cities for desirability.”

Colorado Springs, which has been competing with Huntsville to be the permanent location of the U.S. Space Command headquarters, was not included in the list this year.

The other three cities in Alabama among the top 250 on the ranking are Decatur at 130, Daphne at 182 and Dothan at 190.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

President Donald Trump has announced the projected price tag and timeline of completion for the  ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system.

According to a report from Politico, the commander in chief has set aside $175 billion for the system, with $25 billion of that sum included in his new ‘big, beautiful bill.’ Trump expects the Golden Dome to be fully operational within three years.

RELATED: President Trump establishes U.S. ‘Iron Dome’ defense system – Redstone Arsenal is prepared to deliver, Rep. Dale Strong says

“Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world,” Trump said in the Oval Office on Tuesday. “This design will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term.”

In late January, the President issued an executive order formalizing the Golden Dome initiative.

“President Ronald Reagan endeavored to build an effective defense against nuclear attacks, and while this program resulted in many technological advances, it was canceled before its goal could be realized,” the EO read. “And since the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002 and initiated development of limited homeland missile defense, official United States homeland missile defense policy has remained only to stay ahead of rogue-nation threats and accidental or unauthorized missile launches.”

“Over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has become more intense and complex with the development by peer and near-peer adversaries of next-generation delivery systems and their own homeland integrated air and missile defense capabilities.”

RELATED: Dale Strong says North Alabama’s expertise is key in Trump’s proposed ‘Golden Dome’ national air defense system

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a statement elaborating on the design process of the Golden Dome.

“The United States will continue to enhance its existing capabilities to provide a thorough layered defense for its homeland,” Hegseth said. “This EO does not represent an abandonment of existing ground, sea, and air-based kinetic defenses focused on missile interception in the midcourse or terminal phases of flight. Golden Dome is being designed in close coordination with NORAD, USNORTHCOM, USSPACECOM, and other DoD stakeholders to ensure full interoperability and real-time integration with our existing defense architecture.”

During the announcement, Trump named Gen. Michael Guetlein, the Space Force’s vice chief of space operations, to lead the project.

U.S Rep. Dale Strong, who represents one of the premier congressional districts in the nation for space exploration and missile defense, has been perhaps the most vocal advocate of the Golden Dome missile defense system in the House or Senate.

RELATED: Mike Rogers announces ‘Space Command will officially be assigned to build its headquarters in Huntsville’

Strong told WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show” in late March that much of Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system capabilities are made possible by contributions from the North Alabama area and emphasized the expertise of the area’s workforce in creating such networks.

“It’s an intercontinental ballistic system, and the big thing is it’s a bullet hitting a bullet,” said Strong (R-Huntsville). “But let me tell you something: A lot of that technology for Iron Dome, Huntsville, and Redstone Arsenal, North Alabama, played a big part in it. The big thing we’re going to do is just be sure to say, ‘Look, this is what our scientists are able to do. This is what our electrical mechanical engineers are able to do.’ I think that we will be a part of the process of creating the Golden Dome. How deep we will be into that is still to be determined.”

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten